ERG degrader

Parabilis Medicines (formerly known as FogPharma) is developing a Helicon-enabled degrader targeting the ERG (ETS-related gene) protein, specifically for the treatment of prostate cancer. ERG is a transcription factor that is frequently overexpressed or present as a fusion protein (most commonly TMPRSS2-ERG) in approximately 50% of prostate cancers, where it acts as a key driver of oncogenic gene expression and tumor progression. Because transcription factors like ERG lack traditional small-molecule binding pockets, they have historically been considered undruggable. Parabilis utilizes its proprietary Helicon platform—which creates stabilized, cell-penetrant alpha-helical polypeptides—to bind the ERG protein with high affinity and specificity. These Helicon-based degraders are engineered to recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases, triggering the proteasomal degradation of the ERG protein and subsequently inhibiting the oncogenic transcriptional program. The program is currently in preclinical development.

Other names

ERG Helicon degraderParabilis ERG degrader